Australia buys PNG Defence Force two new aircraft
 

Reported in today's National newspaper:-

https://i2.wp.com/www.thenational.co...40%2C426&ssl=1

New aircraft for military

March 3, 2023 The National Main StoriesAUSTRALIA will deliver two aircraft to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force this year to increase its sovereign aviation capabilities.
Australia Defence Force commander General Angus Campbell said it was “another significant chapter in our aviation cooperation, following Australia’s support to the PNGDF to help re-establish the airworthiness of its first PAC 750XL aircraft in 2021”.
He signed with PNG Defence Force commander Major-General Mark Goina a memorandum of understanding and implementing agreement at the Australian International Air Show yesterday.
The two new PAC 750XL aircraft is expected to increase the PNGDF’s sovereign aviation capabilities.
Maj-Gen Goina said the partnership between the two forces began at the 2012 air show.
“Aimed at revitalising our air safety, air worthiness, air logistics and air operations enabling systems, the programme has been superbly run and has significantly improved the PNGDF air element’s capability,” he said.
He thanked General Campbell and the Royal Australian Air Force for donating gifting of the two aircraft.
He said that the aircrafts could be used in regional incidents as well.
The first aircraft will be delivered next month and the second by September.

Isn’t the company gone now, where are the new aircraft coming from?

Still have website offering new aircraft, operating under the name NZSkydive Ltd since 2021.

https://www.aerospace.co.nz/company/contacts

I saw the headline and thought we we handing over a couple of F35’s.

Didn't the PNGDF previously acquire a couple of PAC-750's? At least there are plenty of spares scattered around the country (some assembly required; batteries not included).

Web site says they currently operate two leased helicopters and one light transport aircraft, types not mentioned.

Lets hope they are better now at keeping the maintenance and records up to date than they were with the Nomads and Iroquois the Australian Government gave them.

CC

Current fleet for PNGDF:

Two leased Bell 212's from Hevilift, P2-DFA and P2-DFB

One PAC750XL, P2-001

Two derelict CASA 235's

There has been plenty of opportunity to put into service the 'Sandline' aircraft. one CASA 212 and one C337.
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The Aravas and Nomad aren't going anywhere soon.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....312b6af5f3.jpg

And the CASA 212 and Australian UH1's, a hang over from the Sandline Affair and Bougainville Revolt (1994).

Should be space there to park up the PAC750s very soon.

Is the Government King Air 200 still in Cairns without engines? Must be many years since that last flew.

The B350 King Air has been undergoing a total restoration programme and is almost ready to take to the air again.

Last flew in 2017; so I'm guessing new rubber fuel cells, de-ice boots airframe, prop overhaul and engine hot section as a minimum; then there is the other time lifed components

Hopefully new carpet to replace the urine soaked matting and betel nut stains.

When I used to fly BB-415 the B200 it was a battle to have the ground staff clean the toilet; bui stains from front to rear.

The B200, BB-415 is still sleeping at the rear of the GFU hangar. Probably no real reason it cannot be made airworthy again....
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https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....225d103669.jpg
Nearly ready !

I enjoyed working on the Arava's, I thought they were appropriate technology. Left just before Sandline.

Always ministerial reasons why the PNGDF aircraft are defunct
Casa engine to be fitted in aircraft

August 6, 2021The Nationalhttps://i1.wp.com/www.thenational.co...00%2C217&ssl=1

Head of the Indonesia national armed forces strategic intelligence agency Lt-Gen Joni Supriyanto (left), and PNGDF deputy commander commodore Philip Polewara standing in front of the PNGDF Casa Engine that was returned to PNG yesterday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI
The CASA 235 engine returned to the PNG Defence Force yesterday by a team of Indonesian military personnel will be fitted into a PNGDF aircraft in preparation for the 2022 National Elections.
Prime Minister James Marape, who is also acting as Minister for Defence, said that he did not want the aircraft, which were vital equipment for the PNG military, to go unused.
“We will be rebuilding the PNGDF, and the aircraft will ensure the air element is ready.”
Indonesia Ambassador Adriana Supandy said the overhauled CASA 235 aircraft engine signified the defence cooperation in part to the agreement concerning cooperation activities in the field of defence in March 2010.
“The engine has been overhauled in Bandung, West Java, and it is a privilege for Indonesia to assist and facilitate the effort to bring this aircraft engine back to the PNG people,” he said.
The CASA 235 engine is owned by PNGDF.
In 2014, when CASA 235 went for a C check, the engine was also brought into Indonesia.
When the team left, the engine was not yet ready so it stayed in Indonesia.
The engine remained until 2018 when the Indonesian ambassador visited the air transport wing during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Port Moresby.
The envoy was informed that the plane had reached its operational hours limit and that its other engine was sitting in a storage area in Indonesia.
That was the start of the ground work to bring the engine back.
The Indonesian army’s air element transported the engine to PNG.
Head of the Indonesia national armed forces strategic intelligence agency Lt-Gen Joni Supriyanto delivered the engine in Port Moresby in a Lockheed C-130H Hercules.

New PAC-750 arriving in Port Moresby today via Cairns.

One of two recently gifted by Australian Government, in a deal signed off at Avalon Airshow.

Kagamuga

Quote:

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BB-415 the B200

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Was that the SKA Wes used to prove his fuel saving theory? :}

Yes in deed Taily! I joind the GFU days after the event.
There is plenty of low fuel warning indicators fitted to a B200; this machine was also fitted with an aftermarket digital F/Flow gauge(s) with low fuel warning.

Ah, you mean the founding of the Port Moresby Gliding Club?:D

Read a good poem about that once. Got it somewhere....:hmm:

Kagamuga

The GFU and PNG CAA has quite an interesting aviation history. Were you there when the King Air C-90 P2-PNB (which may have become P2-CAA??) acquired gravel rash when someone forgot to dangle the Dunlops?

Then of course, there was the Australian DCA Fairchild-Swearingen Merlin many years ago that similarly acquired gravel rash at your name sake airport whilst being flown by a very senior DCA executive, which everyone seems to have quietly forgotten. :}

It will be interesting to see how long the two PNGDF PAC-750's remain serviceable. They can't have many current pilots? The history of Australian donated Patrol Boats also appears disastrous.

Taily,

The C-90 was there under one of its many registraion changes; but was on its way out.

Nacy Wii is OIC at the PNGDF, she is a very capable flyer, but it would be ulikrly she has maintained her qualifications.

The third PAC-750 is due in POM sometime during September.

The French from New Caledonia sent a team to POM to conduct audits of the two CASA 235 airframes, with a view to returning them to service. Records pertaining to engines, airframe, accessories will be a total mess. The OIC at the time of the CASA 235 landing on a closed runway at Goroka two or three years ago, apparently authorised prop and or governor changes, use of timeX components; apparently brushing aside all regulations.

The PNGDF need guidance; perhaps an alliance with a RAAF Squadron?, rotation of personel from both sides to gain experience. Amongst the abandoned Aravia aircraft you would think there might be enough parts to make two airframes serviceable again. Sadly, lack of motivation and money is a concern. There was no real reason the Aravia's, DC-3's, Nomad's and Huey's should have been allowed to deteriorate to the point of being scrap metal. Oddly enough, largest hangar on the airport, largest parking space, semi-private access road, minimal taxi time to runway.

Patrol Boats ... fishing boats for the politicians.
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So one would be safe in assuming that the engine in #13 still has no hours on it?